Generals' Affair
Encyclopedia
The Generals' Affair was a political-military scandal that happened under the French Fourth Republic
during the First Indochina War
. It lasted from September 1949 to November 1950.
in French Indochina
, was in charge of a report about local French Generals' opinion about the situation in Indochina. It was named the Revers Report (Rapport Revers).
The General report drew a very pessimistic opinion about the French situation in Indochina. For some reason, the secret report had fallen in Viet Minh
hands who made it public, broadcasting it on radio and humiliating the French.
In France, the newly created news magazine, L'Express
, which was the first one in France, published a part of the confidential report also.
(SFIO) on court about the Generals' Affair.
French Fourth Republic
The French Fourth Republic was the republican government of France between 1946 and 1958, governed by the fourth republican constitution. It was in many ways a revival of the Third Republic, which was in place before World War II, and suffered many of the same problems...
during the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
. It lasted from September 1949 to November 1950.
Revers Mission (May–June 1949)
From May to June 1949, French General Revers, commanding the Ground Forces of the French UnionFrench Union
The French Union was a political entity created by the French Fourth Republic to replace the old French colonial system, the "French Empire" and to abolish its "indigenous" status.-History:...
in French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
, was in charge of a report about local French Generals' opinion about the situation in Indochina. It was named the Revers Report (Rapport Revers).
Generals' Affair (September 1949)
The scandal burst in September 1949; by December, General Revers was dismissed.The General report drew a very pessimistic opinion about the French situation in Indochina. For some reason, the secret report had fallen in Viet Minh
Viet Minh
Việt Minh was a national independence coalition formed at Pac Bo on May 19, 1941. The Việt Minh initially formed to seek independence for Vietnam from the French Empire. When the Japanese occupation began, the Việt Minh opposed Japan with support from the United States and the Republic of China...
hands who made it public, broadcasting it on radio and humiliating the French.
In France, the newly created news magazine, L'Express
L'Express (France)
L'Express is a French weekly news magazine. When founded in 1953 during the First Indochina War, it was modelled on the US magazine TIME.-History:...
, which was the first one in France, published a part of the confidential report also.
Generals' Affair Commission of Inquiry (January 1950)
On January 1950, the National Assembly of France created a Commission of Inquiry about the Generals' Affair.Jules Moch's trial (November 1950)
On November 28, 1950, the National Assembly of France brought socialist Defense Ministry Jules MochJules Moch
Jules Salvador Moch was a French politician.-Biography:...
(SFIO) on court about the Generals' Affair.